County under flood warning

Jackson County remains under a flood warning with the East Fork White River expected to exceed its banks Thursday afternoon.

The river level should crest at 16.5 feet sometime Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Flood stage at Seymour is 12 feet.

Flood levels are not expected to exceed those experienced in December for the White and East Fork White Rivers. The river crested then at 19.01 feet, the 10th highest crest for the river.

Widespread flooding will develop along rivers in central and southern Indiana from Thursday through much of next week, the weather service said.

Significant flooding is possible elsewhere in the state, however.

All river ice will break up and move during this flood, which could cause serious localized flooding along the Wabash River upstream of Interstate 74.

Jackson County Sheriff Michael Carothers urged motorists to steer clear of flood waters across area roads. County commissioner Jerry Hounshel added that flood waters now could pose a greater risk for washing away asphalt because some roads have been weakened by the harsh winter weather.

The highway department reported Thursday that no roads were closed by river water, but County Road 1000N was closed by flash flood water because drainage ditches in that area were filled with snow melt.

The department expects a number of roads along the river will be under water by Friday morning.